BAY TREE / Bay laurel / Laurus nobilis
10 seeds
Evergreen shrub, grown for its culinary use as 'bay leaf' to season cooking. Prefers warm climates, native to the Mediterranean.
7-18 m tall
Slow growing, can be grown in a pot and pruned to keep at a more manageable size.
Germination may be difficult, expect between 50-80% success rate. To germinate soak for 24 hours in water, then lightly scape on sandpaper to break or remove the black outer skin. Cold stratification may improve results - place seed in moist sand in the fridge for 4 weeks. Return to room temperature and sow in pots of seed raising mix and cover with a thin layer of soil - best done in Spring. Germination occurs in 2-8 weeks.
NOTE seed is perishable, either sow immediately or store in the fridge for a short time until you are ready to plant.